Device for thermal treatment of organism

ABSTRACT

A device for thermal treatment of a human organism having a header with heat carrier and manifolds for delivering the heat to the treated surface of a human body. The manifolds are connected to the header, communicate with it and are located at a certain distance from one another. A combination of these manifolds forms a surface closely conforming to the treated surface of the body. Each manifold has a variable section which is largest at the heat carrier inlet and diminishes in the direction of heat carrier flow. The surface of each manifold facing the treated surface of the body is provided with uniformly arranged holes. The latter are fitted with nozzles ensuring uniform outflow of the heat carrier.

llnited States Patent [191 Smirnov et al.

[ DEVICE FOR THERMAL TREATMENT OF ORGANISM [76] Inventors: Oleg Alexandrovich Smirnov, ulitsa Veshnvakovskaya, 6, korpus 2, kv. 32, Moscow; Vyacheslav Ivanovich Zubkov, Novy proezd, 6 a, kv. l4, Zhukovsky; Igor Georgievich Mescherinov, ulitsa Kosinskaya, 28, korpus l, kv. 51, Moscow; Viktor Petrovich Danilov, Samarkandsky bulvar, 13, korpus 3, kv. 79, Moscow; Iser Moiseevich Gvantmakher, Samarkandsky bulvar, 34, korpus 3, kv. 25, Moscow, all of U.S.S.R.

[22] Filed: June 28, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 374,389

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 8, 1972 U.S.S.R 1818535 [52] [1.8. CI. 128/400, 128/368 [51] Int. Cl. A61f 7/00 [58] Field of Search 128/402, 400, 399, 373,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,874,619 3/1932 Mascolo 128/400 X [451 Oct. 8, 1974 3,714,947 2/1973 Hardy 128/400 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 295,741 10/1965 Australia 128/400 1,444,974 5/1966 France 128/367 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or FirmI-lolman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT A device for thermal treatment of a human organism having a header with heat carrier and manifolds for delivering the heat to the treated surface of a human body. The manifolds are connected to the header, communicate with it and are located at a certain distance from one another. A combination of these manifolds forms a surface closely conforming to the treated surface of the body. Each manifold has a variable section which is largest at the heat carrier inlet and diminishes in the direction of heat carrier flow, The surface of each manifold facing the treated surface of the body is provided with uniformly arranged holes. The latter are fitted with nozzles ensuring uniform outflow of the heat carrier.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATEME on aim SHEET 2 OF 2 DEVICE FOR THERMAL TREATMENT OF ORGANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to medical apparatuses and more particularly it relates, to devices for thermal treatment of organism.

The present invention can be successfully used in. preoperative and postoperative periods in presence of an open wound or field of operation on the treated surface of the body.

There are devices known in the art for thermal treatment of organism in the form of double-walled thermal suits, blankets and mattresses with heat carrier passing between the walls. Such devices are applied to the treated surface of the body and the heat carrier either cools or heats the treated surface of the body through the separating wall of the devices.

However, tight fitting of such devices to the treated surface of the body is practically impossible. The presence of a separating wall and a loose contact between the device and the body retards and, consequently, prolongs the process of cooling and heating of the organism. Further, the use of such devices denies the possibility of controlling visually the state of the treated surface of the body, and hampers the application of various sensing units, e.g., for taking encephalograms and for measuring temperature. In view of these disadvantages, such devices are not widespread in medicine.

Another device is known in the art for thermal treatment of organism (Authors Application No. 293381, USSR).

This device is comprised of a header with a heat carrier, and manifolds in the form of hollow elements, intended to deliver the heat carrier to the treated surface of the body. The manifolds are arranged at a certain distance from one another. One end of each manifold is secured to the header while its other end is provided with a nozzle pointing toward the heated surface of the body. The heat carrier enters the header and is delivered from in onto the treated surface of the body through the manifolds and the nozzles.

In this device each manifold has to be selected individually to suit the size and contour of the treated surface of the body. This increases considerably the amount of labor required for manufacturing and using the device and, as a consequence, raises its cost. Due to the fact that the manifolds are rigidly installed in this device, the latter cannot be employed for selective hypothermia. This device cannot exclude the effect of heat carrier on the surfaces of the body with an open wound or a field of operation.

Still another device is known in the art for thermal treatment of organism (Patent No. 570583, Japan). This device comprises a header with a liquid heat carrier and manifolds in the form of hollow elements, intended to deliver the heat carrier to the treated surface of the body.The manifolds are rigidly installed on the header, communicate with it and are arranged at a certain distance from one another. The shape of each manifold conforms closely to the treated surface of the body. All the manifolds taken together form a surface following closely the contour of the treated surface of the body. The manifolds surface facing the treated surface of the body is provided with uniformly arranged holes for the outflow of the heat carrier. At the side opposite to the treated surface of the body, there is a receiving vessel for the used heat carrier. The device is located above the treated surface of the body with relation to the heat carrier flowing out of the holes. The heat carrier is delivered by a pump from the header into the manifolds from where it flows through holes onto the treated surface of the body.

This device cannot be used if the treated surface of the body has an open wound or a field of operation. The employment of liquid heat carrier involves also certain difficulties in operation of the device. For example in order, to meet the requirements of sanitary hygiene, it is necessary, periodically, to replace the heat carrier in the device, to watch its level and add it periodically to bring it to the required mark.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention resides in providing a device for thermal treatment of the human organism which would ensure uniform hyperthermia, hypothermia or normothermia of the body surface treated with a heat carrier.

Another object of the present invention resides in ensuring hyperthermia, hypothermia and normothermia of the treated body surface with an open wound or a field of operation.

A further object of the present invention resides in reducing the time required for the preparation of the device for administering hypothermia and normothermia to the treated surface of the body.

In accordance with the above-stated and other objects the present invention consists in providing a device for thermal treatment of a human organism comprising a header intended to deliver a heat carrier to the treated surface of the body through manifolds which are connected to the header, communicate with it and are arranged at a certain distance from one another, the surface of each manifold facing the treated surface of the body being provided with uniformly arranged holes for the outflow of the heat carrier and is shaped so that the combination of these surfaces of all the manifolds forms a surface closely conforming to the contour of the treated surface of the body wherein, according to the invention, the holes for the outflow of the heat carrier have nozzles and each manifolds has a variable section which is largest at the heat carrier inlet and diminishes in the direction of heat carrier flow.

Due to the variable-section manifolds and the nozzles installed in the heat carrier outlet holes, the device realized in this manner ensures a uniform intensity of thermal treatment of all the parts of the treated body surface with the sprays of heat carrier thus administering uniform hypothermia, hyperthermia or normothermia to the treated surface of the body.

It is practicable that each manifold should be removable. This will allow some of the manifolds to be removed from the header above that part of the treated surface which has an open wound or a field of operation. Moreover, this design simplifies disinfection of the device after use. The same distinctive feature of the design makes it possible to speed up the preparation of the device for use.

It is possible to make each nozzle removable. This will leave a small area with a wound untreated by the sprays of the heat carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from a detailed description of the device, given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a device for the thermal treatment of the human organism, e.g., the patients head, according to the invention, partly cut out longitudinally;

FIG. 2 shows the device for the thermal treatment of organism according to the invention with a removable manifold, partly cut out longitudinally.

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the line III III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view of the device for cooling the patients head according to the invention and the device for heating the patients trunk according to the invention and;

FIG. 5 shows the device for heating the patients trunk, according to the invention, longitudinal section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A device for thermal treatment of organism, e.g., the head of a patient, comprises a header 1 (FIG. 1) supplied with a heat carrier, e.g., air, and manifolds 2 which deliver the air to the treated surface of the body. The manifolds are connected with the header 1 and communicate with the latter. Further, the manifolds 2 are arranged at a certain distance from one another and are made removable. Some of them can be removed from the header above the area of the treated surface on the patients head with an open wound or a field of operation and replaced by plugs 3 (FIG. 2). The surface 4 of the manifold 2 facing the treated surface of the head is shaped so that the combination of the surfaces 4 of all the manifolds 2 forms a surface closely conforming to the contour of the treated surface of the head. The air outlet holes 5 are uniformly arranged on the surface 4 of each manifold 2 and on the base 6 of the header 1. In order to ensure the outflow of air in uniform sprays, the holes 5 are provided with nozzles 7 which are made removable. This makes it possible to exclude the effect of air sprays on a small area with a wound by installing a plug 8 (FIG. 3) into the hole 5. Each manifold 2 (FIG. I) is of a variable section which is largest at the air inlet and diminishes in the direction of air flow. The device for thermal treatment of the patients head, e.g., for cooling it, is accommodated in a receiver 9 (FIG. 4) for the used heat carrier. Installed in the receiver 9 is a support 10 for the patients head. Additionally, the receiver 9 has an elastic seal 11 made of, for example, polyethylene with a hole for the head. For cooling the head the seal 11 is placed on the patients head and fastened to the receiver 9 for used heat carrier. The elastic seal 11 prevents air leaks from the receiver 9. The header 1 is provided with an air supply conduct 12 for connecting it to a heat exchanger 13. The heat exchanger 13 accommodates the evaporator 14 of a refrigerating unit 15 and a heater 16. In the process of cooling the patients head, the refrigerating unit 15 is in operation while the heater 16 is turned off. Upon coming in contact with the surface of the evaporator 14, the air is cooled and delivered to the integuments of the patients head. When the patients head is heated, the refrigerating unit 15 is turned off and the heater 16 is in operation. Upon contacting the surface of the heater 16, the air is heated and directed onto the integuments of the patients head.

The heat exchanger 13 has a pipe connection 17 which puts it in communication with a fan 18 forcing the air onto the integuments of the patients heat. The fan 18 and the receiver 9 of the used heat carrier are combined by an air suction conduit 19 which carries the air from the receiver 9 after the contact with the patients head. In order to reduce the losses of heat to the ambient medium, the air supply conduit 12 is placed into the air suction conduit 19. Both air conduits l2 and 19 are made of an elastic material, e.g., rubber, which allows the receiver 9 to be placed at a certain distance from the apparatus on a bed, a wheeled bed or an operating table. The air delivered to the integuments of the patients head can be sterilized by, for example, a bactericidal lamp 20 installed in the air supply conduit 12. The refrigerating unit 15 and heater 16 are turned on and off by a temperature regulator 21 electrically connected with the units. The temperature regulator 21 works in conjunction with temperature sensing units 22 electrically connected with it. The sensing units 22 are placed in the flow of air, e.g., in the header 1 and, selectively, in the patients body, for example, in the ear. In the process of cooling the patients head, the temperature regulator 21 turns the refrigerating unit 15 on and off via actuating elements, e.g., relays (not shown in the drawings), while in the process of heating the patients head it turns on and off the heater 13. The preset temperature can be maintained within a period from a few hours to several days.

The receiver 9 of the used heat carrier, the heat exchanger 13, fan 18, refrigerating unit 15 and regulator 21 are installed on the housing 23.

In order to exclude the effect of heat carrier sprays on the surfaces of the body with open wounds or a field of operation, some manifolds 2 located above these surfaces can be removed from the header 1 and the holes from which they have been removed can be stopped by plugs 3 (FIG. 2). In case of small wounds the nozzles 7 can be replaced by plugs 8 (FIG. 3).

The device for thermal treatment of a human organism, for example for heating, cooling and maintaining normal temperature of a human trunk (FIGS. 4, 5) is similar to the above-described device being distinguished by different dimensions of the header and manifolds. The elements of the device for the thermal treatment of a human trunk are similar to those described above in the device for the thermal treatment of the patients head and are denoted in FIGS. 4 and 5 by numbers with a prime.

The device for cooling the patients head functions as follows.

The fan 18 (FIG. 4) and the refrigerating unit 15 are turned on. When the patients head is cooled, the heater 16 is turned off. The air is forced by the fan 18 through the pipe connection 17 into the heat exchanger 13 where it contacts the surface of the evaporator 14, cools down and is delivered into the manifolds 2 through the supply conduit 12 and the header 1; from the manifolds 2 the air is delivered in sprays under a certain pressure through the nozzles 7 onto the cooled surface of the patients head. After the contact with this surface, the air flows into the receiver for the used heat carrier from where it flows through the suction conduit 19 again to fan 18. On a signal of the temperature sensing unit 22 in the patients ear the regulator 21 turns off the refrigerating unit through some actuating elements, e.g., a relay (not shown in the drawing). A low temperature can be maintained for a period lasting from a few hours to several days.

For heating the patients head, the fan 18 and the heater 16 are turned on, the refrigerating unit 15 being inoperative. The air is heated in the heat exchanger 13 through contact with the surface of the heater 16. The route of the circulating air is the same as during cooling, viz., fan 18 pipe connection 17 heat exchanger 13 air supply conduit 12 header 1, manifold 2 nozzles 7 head integuments receiver 9 air suction conduit 19 and again fan 18.

The device for heating the patients trunk functions as follows.

The fan 18' (FIG. 4) and the heater 16' are turned on. The refrigerating unit 15 is inoperative. The air flows through the pipe connection 17' into the heat exchanger 13 where it contact the surface of the heater 16, is heated and flows through the air supply conduit 12 and the header 1' into the manifolds 2 from where it is delivered through the nozzles 7' in uniformly distributed sprays under a certain pressure onto the treated surface of the patients trunk. After contacting the surface, the air flows into the receiver 9 for the used heat carrier from which it moves through the suction conduit 19' back to the fan 18. On a signal of a temperature sensing unit 22' installed in the patients rectum, the regulator 21' turns off the heater 16 through an actuating element, e.g., a relay (not shown in the drawing). The process of maintaining the preset temperature in the patients trunk can continue from a few hours to several days. If there is an open wound on the patients body, the manifolds 2' are taken out of the header 1 and replaced by the plugs 3 (FIG. 5). If the wound is relatively small, a number of removable nozzles 7 on the manifolds 2' are replaced by the plugs 8.

For cooling the patients trunk which may be required, for example, in treating burns, the fan 18 (FIG. 4) and the refrigerating unit 15' are turned on, the heater 16' being inoperative. The air is cooled in the heat exchanger 13 by contacting the surface of the evaporator 14. The cooled air is delivered to the surface to be cooled in the same manner as during heating; fan 18' pipe connection 17 heat exchanger 13 supply conduit 12 header 1, manifolds 2 nozzles 7 body integuments receiver 9' suction conduit 19 and again the fan 18. The air is sterilized by the bactericidal lamp 20 and the temperature is controlled by the regulator 21' on signals from the temperature sensing units 22'.

It should be noted that both devices are selfcontained and can be used separately from each other.

The device for the thermal treatment of organism according to the invention ensures either local or general hypothermia, hyperthermia and normothermia. It can be used for cooling one part of the human body, e.g., the head and heating another part of the body, e.g., the trunk which is vital in the treatment of, for instance, local-disseminated and generalized forms of cancer.

Apart from changing the thermal condition of the organism, the device according to the invention makes it possible to use the favorable effect of cold while treating the cases with extensive burns on the surface of the body. This is ensured by the use of a gaseous heat carrier, by adjusting the temperature and pressure of the heat carrier within wide limits and by uniform distribution of the heat carrier over the treated surface.

The shape of the device may follow the contour of any part of the human body, i.e., the head, trunk, arm or leg.

We claim:

1. A device for thermal treatment of a human organism comprising: a heat carrier exchanging heat with the treated surface of the body; a header for said heat carrier; manifolds for delivering said heat carrier to the treated surface of the body, said manifolds being connected with said header, communicating with it and located at a distance from one another; each of said manifolds having a specially-shaped surface which faces the treated surface of the body so that the combination of these surfaces of all said manifolds forms a surface closely conforming to the contour of the treated body surface, said manifold having a variable section which is largest at the heat carrier inlet and diminishes in the direction of heat carrier flow; said specially-shaped surface of each of said manifolds which faces the treated surface of the body having a plurality of holes uniformily disposed therein said holes having nozzles disposed therein which are adapted for uniform outflow of said heat carrier; and said heat carrier flowing from said header through said manifolds and said nozzles and transferring heat to said treated surface of the body.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said manifolds is removable.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said nozzles is removable.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said nozzles is removable. 

1. A device for thermal treatment of a human organism comprising: a heat carrier exchanging heat with the treated surface of the body; a header for said heat carrier; manifolds for delivering said heat carrier to the treated surface of the body, said manifolds being connected with said header, communicating with it and located at a distance from one another; each of said manifolds having a specially-shaped surface which faces the treated surface of the body so that the combination of these surfaces of all said manifolds forms a surface closely conforming to the contour of the treated body surface, said manifold having a variable section which is largest at the heat carrier inlet and diminishes in the direction of heat carrier flow; said specially-shaped surface of each of said manifolds which faces the treated surface of the body having a plurality of holes uniformily disposEd therein said holes having nozzles disposed therein which are adapted for uniform out-flow of said heat carrier; and said heat carrier flowing from said header through said manifolds and said nozzles and transferring heat to said treated surface of the body.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said manifolds is removable.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said nozzles is removable.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said nozzles is removable. 